#1: How do you know if cgm not work anymore or its just winter weather

Been doing cgm since March. Hair seems healthier. No split ends. I just feel like when it air dries it's limp. I'm 2b some 2c at ends. Winter weather drying it a little. Idk if I need to try clippies on top for volume although it hasn't worked well for me in past. Maybe I'll try ag recoil. Been doing less glycerin for winter. A little less protein. Second day hair is crap. Trying to figure out how to refresh it. Light spray in conditioner seems to help a little. Maybe i just need tl be less lazy and put more effort into it. I am really a wash, products, and go girl if i can help it. Just getting frustrated needed to vent. Thanks

Do you have any idea what your hair properties are (porosity and texture)? Those are a lot of help in choosing products that will work for your hair. I'd suggest reading through the material here. Can you tell us what products you're using and exactly what you do on a typical wash day, including techniques? We might be able to pinpoint what isn't working for you.

Thanks, Kris. If you're still growing out heat damage and/or color damage (esp. permanent color), then the damaged areas are probably high porosity. I'd first suggest trying a silicone free low poo that contains Cocamidopropyl Betaine or Coco Betaine. In addition to non-water soluble silicones, butters, oils, waxes, cetyl esters (a waxy ingredient), and polyquats (amongst others) can build up. If that's part of your issue, a low poo should help your hair curl up more. Oftentimes people with fine hair can't exclusively cowash as it weighs their hair down. Some choose an occasional low poo to deal with this issue, while others choose to mostly low poo with only occasional cowashing. Either choice is still CG.

Since your hair is fine to medium textured and if it still has damaged areas, I'd also suggest adding more protein into your regimen. Since your hair is drying out between washes, you might use a protein rich rinse out conditioner, then use a moisturizing LI to maintain moisture. A spray LI may not have enough oomph for winter's low dews, so you might want to try a creamier one.

Loss of curl and limpness are both signs of overconditioning (not enough protein), especially if the hair also feels overly soft and/or "mushy", and fine hair can feel dry, but in truth be protein starved. If you've been adding moisture without any improvements, you may want to try a deep protein treatment (pt) for a big dose of protein. IAGirl's gelatin protein treatment (linked in my siggy) is an easy and cheap one you can mix up at home. When you rinse out a pt, if your hair feels soft or only a little dry, follow with a good moisturizing rinse out conditioner and LI. If your hair feels very dry or straw-like, do a full dt (deep moisture treatment).

I have fine hair myself, but no damage, and the climate where I am is similar to Pittsburgh. I find I need regular pt's year round for optimal curl. I have to avoid protein in my leave in conditioners and stylers during the winter (hair dries out), but I still need it in my cowash and /or rinse out conditioner.

Limp hair is a telltale sign of winter hair woes. There could be buildup, in which case, you should consider changing your products. Some people don't like the CG method, but most do, so I wouldn't jump to that conclusion. Avoid heavy products, including most gels, because they weigh hair down noticeably in the winter time.

Bought aphogee keratin 2 minute reconstruct or sample pack. Also a bought aphogee two step protein treatment trial pack. I think I'm going to try the two minute one first as it seems less intense. I know they have silicones which I usually don't use, but I've heard gold things about these products and my hair needs help. I'll see how my hair responds. If you have experience or tips please let me know. I'll post how things turn out.

This thread has great info. (Rymorg2 is a stylist). In a nusthell, you generally want to follow a pt with moisture. Tailor the amount of moisture to the amount of dryness (if any) you feel in your hair as you rinse out the pt and after you've fully rinsed. If your hair is silky soft or only a little dry, you may want to simply use your normal rinse out conditioner and LI. If your hair is very dry or even straw-like, you'll want to do a dt (deep moisture treatment).

For your colour damaged sections overnight coconut oil soaks on dry hair to reduce porosity and increase elasticity. Can also try protein to patch repair but don't overdo it in lower humidity/ dews because it can dry out hair.

I tend to do better with protein in my leave in conditioner rather than a deep treatment so do try both. My porous colour treated hair definitely needs more protein in summer and more oils (treatments or conditioner ingredients not straight up leave in) in winter which seems to be fairly common. Both coconut oil and hydrolysed protein are curl defining and curl boosting for me.

Been doing cgm since March. Hair seems healthier. No split ends. I just feel like when it air dries it's limp. I'm 2b some 2c at ends. Winter weather drying it a little. Idk if I need to try clippies on top for volume although it hasn't worked well for me in past. Maybe I'll try ag recoil. Been doing less glycerin for winter. A little less protein. Second day hair is crap. Trying to figure out how to refresh it. Light spray in conditioner seems to help a little. Maybe i just need tl be less lazy and put more effort into it. I am really a wash, products, and go girl if i can help it. Just getting frustrated needed to vent. Thanks

Originally Posted by KrisHousley13

Hi...wanted to post a few tips, might help...

Protein does not work on my hair, leaves it feeling hard and crisp.

Because my hair is naturally oily, any product with "heavy oils" in it as a first product doesn't work, [leaves my hair limp and greasy looking].

Gels, mousses, and styling sprays do not work well on my hair, [avoid them like the plague].

Might I suggest that you go on YouTube and search for videos of ladies with your hair type:

I don't use any kind of towel or a T-shirt to dry my hair, [since water is the best moisturizer/hydration for curly hair, I just squeeze some out of my hair with my hands and apply my products].

I "finger-comb" my hair since January, [tried that wide tooth with the beads on the ends for a month and for some reason my ends split and needed a trim]. Since I went back to finger-combing, my ends are fine.

I started out using Deva Curl No-Poo, Conditioner One, and Heaven In Hair deep conditioner. I think you should as well because her products are good for our hair, [I don't use gels however she does have several "stylers" in her product line.

It's an easy "system", and you will start loving your hair while you search for other products that are more natural and less expensive, [also buy the book, it is soooo encouraging and she doesn't advertise her products in her book].